Other Sunsets and Other Things

Hopefully there's no copyright infringement when it comes to titles of posts, but Sarge whet my appetite with that beautiful sunset photo he opened with a couple days ago so I'm stealing his.  With that, I wanted to add to the beauty here at The Chant with some more photos in that vein.  It was an amazing summer in San Diego and places near and far with some amazing sunsets.  

This was out in Colorado, east of Denver.  Colorado is rugged, mountainous, and beautiful, but if you go a little further east, it's as flat as the great plains.  It made for an expansive sunset though.

Sunset from a marina on Mission Bay.  We were taking out a friend's boat to go watch the fireworks drone show that Sea World puts on nightly in the summer.  They've caved to environmentalist pressure and abandoned their fireworks display that was a summer staple for 40 years.  While I miss it, the drone show isn't bad. Take a look if you wish.

This was July in Poipu Hawaii, before Hurricane Lowell tore it up just a couple months later.  These next two photos are of the resort we stayed at:

The main pool looked a lot better when we were there.  You can see it here: Pool

Fortunately they've been working hard and from what I've read, the property is in much better shape, although not fully healed.  Kauai is at the end of the distribution train and supplies and rebuilding materials are slow in arriving, as are insurance adjustors and claim payouts.  There's also a lot of unemployment on the island since the hotels and resorts have fewer guests so less money to employ these people.  We'll probably be back, but not for a few years.  Not because we're worried about the state of the resort, but we tend to use our timeshare points on resorts we've not visited before.  

As an update from my last post, the new windshield on my wife's car seems to be keeping the rain out of course, but the roof repair on our homestead is not expected for a couple weeks.  The company is a little backlogged because of the recent rain- including what's falling right now as I write this.  Unfortunately we are in "El Nino" season and more rain is expected.  A lot more.  That's ok though-   I have a bucket and we really need the rain.  It's been so dry around here since last winter that my skin is currently registering as a medium-grit sandpaper.

 

This is one of our Wasp Class Amphibs off the California Coast last June.  I'll admit to AI helping fix the photo which was taken at speed from the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner.  That train goes from San Diego up the coast and all the way to San Luis Obispo.  It offers some outstanding views of the ocean with some parts of the track having nothing but beach between the ocean and the track.  Anybody taken that train or one of the cross-country routes on Amtrak?  I'm considering adding it to our travel bucket list.  

Check out the Reel and the video:

https://www.instagram.com/reels/De0Lt7YvlRP/

@tisvlad

Jet & Sunset! Carlsbad Airport Departure

@sddiscover

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This photographer has a condo just across from Petco Park so she gets some amazing sunset shots.

From the Bora Bora Yacht Club

I don't remember if I wrote about it, but Bora Bora was top-tier, A plus, premium beauty.  The natural reef and white sand at the bottom makes the lagoon incredibly picturesque.  Unfortunately, the clouds seem to roll in just ahead of sunset so I didn't get that perfect sunset photo I was hoping for. 

I did get this one though which is going to be our Christmas Card so you're getting a sneak peek.  

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I've never been one to get starry-eyed over celebrity culture, nor am I the type to mourn people I didn't know personally. But I do hold a quiet respect for a few great actors. My interactions with the few I've come across have always been low-key: I once shared a cup of coffee with Gene Hackman in the wardroom of the USS Carl Vinson, and while I respected him immensely, I never asked for an autograph or a selfie. Two years later, I crossed paths with R. Lee Ermey on the Nimitz. The ship’s photographer snapped a photo of us, though it's a piece of my history I never got to see.  Tom Skerritt is another one of those actors I quietly respected.  I didn't know much about him personally, but to me, that’s part of why I respected him. So many celebrities today use their popularity—and often the award stage—as a personal soapbox to talk politics, criticize the government, or lecture the rest of us about global issues. Skerritt never did that. He just did his job, playing strong characters with a quiet presence that commanded attention.

I first saw him back in the movie M*A*S*H*, and then of course as Viper in TOPGUN (one word, all caps!). He was also wonderful as a pastor and father in A River Runs Through It, which I thoroughly enjoyed. He was a professional who kept it entirely about the craft.  And with his departure, I think we truly lost a great American.

Enough for today.  Enjoy your Sunday.